Manager Brand Marketing Keds

At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across North America and a billion-dollar digital commerce business. We lead the footwear industry with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands, including Topo Athletic, Keds, Vince Camuto, Kelly & Katie, Jessica Simpson, Lucky Brand, Mix No. 6, Crown Vintage, and others. With expertise in design, production, and sourcing, we create on-trend footwear and accessories, delivered through a robust omni-channel infrastructure and national wholesale distribution. At Designer Brands, we are committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity, where each employee’s unique perspective contributes to our success. Anchored by our core values of “We Love What We Do,” “We Own What We Do,” “We Do What’s Right,” and “We Belong,” we continuously drive forward together, building a future where everyone can put their best foot forward.

 

 

The Opportunity

Keds has always stood for movement—creative movement, personal movement, and cultural movement. As the Brand Marketing Manager, you’ll be at the center of bringing this iconic brand’s stories to life. You will develop and guide thoughtful, integrated marketing strategies that spark connection with consumers across wholesale, social, PR, and global markets.

This role is hands on, creative, and collaborative. You’ll lead campaigns from concept to execution, champion consistent brand expression, and partner closely across teams to ensure every marketing moment feels purposeful. For someone who loves balancing strategy with creativity, this is a chance to shape where the Keds brand goes next.

This role reports to the Director, Digital and Brand Marketing and manages 1–3 direct reports.

What You’ll Be Doing

Brand + Marketing Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of integrated marketing strategies across wholesale, PR, social media, and influencer channels.
• Strengthen brand equity and drive sales through cohesive, consumer centered marketing plans.
• Partner with leadership teams on brand collaboration and partnership opportunities.

Campaign Leadership

• Direct campaign planning across seasons and market moments to ensure alignment with brand voice, positioning, and visual identity.
• Oversee the creation of campaign assets, ensuring they reflect the Keds DNA and support key brand milestones.

Social Media + PR Activations

• Guide social media and PR initiatives, including content calendars, influencer partnerships, product seeding, and agency collaboration.
• Ensure all external touchpoints feel authentic, inclusive, and connected to broader brand goals.

Analytics + Insights

• Review campaign performance and competitive activity to understand what’s landing with consumers.
• Translate data into actionable insights that improve future strategies.

Budget + Planning Oversight

• Manage marketing budgets, including forecasting, tracking, and invoice processing to support thoughtful investment decisions.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Sales, Product Development, and international teams to create tools and assets that support selling and sell through.
• Partner with Creative, Digital, and other internal teams to ensure all collateral aligns with brand guidelines and timelines.

Team Leadership

• Coach, support, and develop direct reports, encouraging a collaborative, curious, and solutions-oriented environment.

What You’ll Need

Required Skills

• Proven ability to lead teams and manage multiple initiatives with clarity and organization.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across all levels.
• Expertise in social media strategy, influencer marketing, and PR execution.
• Comfort interpreting data and applying insights to shape strategy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, plus familiarity with marketing analytics tools.

Minimum Experience

• 5+ years in marketing, including at least 2 years in a managerial or leadership role.

Minimum Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the footwear or fashion industry.
• Understanding of who